Shuttle chick mechanisms

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an improved shuttle-checking mechanism for a loom, comprising a shuttle box having a pivotally mounted shuttle binder which forms one wall of the shuttle box and one edge of the opening of the shuttle box. By causing the binder to be pivoted to a closed position prior to the shuttle entering the box, the curved surface of the shuttle will engage a generally arch-shaped surface of the binder and the motion of the shuttle will be uniformly arrested and shuttle rebound substantially eliminated. By causing the binder to be pivoted to an open position prior to the shuttle being picked from the box, contact pressure between the shuttle and the edge of the box opening formed by the binder will be substantially eliminated, making it easier to drive the shuttle from the box and reducing the abrasion on the weft yarn being carried by the shuttle.

United States Patent William Kenneth Miller Greeneville, Tenn. 713,807

Mar. 18, 1968 Aug. 3, 1971 l-lnydt Corporation Rernsseier, N.Y.

(72] Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SHUTTLE CHICK MECHANISMS 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. CL... 139/187 [51] ht. Cl. D036 49/56 [50] Field oISeareh 139/183- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,961 8/1891 Thompson 139/185 1,511,185 10/1924 Davis 139/183 1,539,298 5/1925 Carver. 138/185 2,417,295 3/1947 Darwin.... 1391185 2,501,394 3/1950 Freniere 139/186 2,544,015 3/1951 Galland 139/185 1,776,626 9/1930 Holden 139/187 FOREIGN PATENTS 569,290 7/1958 Belgium 139/144 120,000 10/1947 Sweden [39/187 515,386 11/1952 Belgium 139/187 461,168 l/l951 Italy 138/187 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi Anomeywilliam G. Rhines ABSTRACT: This invention relates to an improved shuttlechecking mechanism for a loom, comprising a shuttle box having a pivotally mounted shuttle binder which forms one wall of the shuttle box and one edge of the opening of the shuttle box. By causing the binder to be pivoted to a closed position prior I to the shuttle entering the box, the curved surface of the shut- Patented Aug. 3, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SHUTTLE CHICK MECHANISMS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in a shuttlechecking mechanism for a loom. Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide for an improved shuttle box wherein a reciprocating shuttle may be uniformly arrested and from which it may be subsequently picked with maximum utilization of applied energy and reduced abrasion of the filling yarn. These and other objectives are accomplished by a shuttle box having a shuttle binder, one end of which is pivotally mounted thereto. The shuttle binder is structured to form one wall of the shuttle box and one edge of the opening of the shuttle box. It should be noted that by the use of the word wall" it is meant to include the top of the shuttle box as well as its sides. Actuating means are provided for pivoting the binder to a closed or an open position. By a closed position, it is meant that the binder is positioned so that its inner surface and that of the opposing wall of the shuttle box form an enclosure of decreasing width in the path of motion of the incoming shuttle whereby the shuttle is uniformly arrested. By an open" position, it is meant that the binder is moved away from the path of motion of the shuttle. By use of this structure, shuttle deflection is kept to a minimum; the result being that the shuttle is properly boxed. It is obvious that if the shuttle is not deflected from its course of travel as it enters the shuttle box, the shuttle will complete its journey from one side of the loom to the other and properly come to rest next to the picker at the end of the raceplate. In addition, by providing for the uniform deceleration of the shuttle, it is possible to maintain the filling or weft yarn at a uniform tension. Another aspect of the present invention is that the firing of the shuttle from the shuttle box is facilitated. By causing the binder to be pivoted to an open position before the shuttle is fired, filling yarn abrasion is substantially eliminated and the amount of energy needed to pick the shuttle is reduced.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus which will cause the shuttle to be properly guided into the shuttle box thereby reducing shuttle deflection and rebound.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus which will cause the shuttle to be arrested in a uniform manner thereby eliminating any slack in the filling yarn and ensuring that it is kept under a uniform tension.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for the picking of the shuttle from the shuttle box with reduced abrasion of the filling yarn.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for the picking of the shuttle from the shuttle box with maximum utilization of applied energy.

Another object of this invention is to provide for the operation of the loom at high speeds with improved quality of the fabric produced.

These and other objects will become apparent from the detailed discussion which follows and from the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a shuttle box mounted on a loom and having a shuttle binder embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top section view taken along line ll-Il of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end section view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1 illustrating the shuttle binder in a closed position.

FIG. 4 is an end section view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1 illustrating the position of the shuttle binder when the shuttie is fully arrested.

FIG. 5 is an end section view taken along line Ill-III of FIG. 1 illustrating the shuttle binder in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a top view ofa shuttle box mounted on a loom and having a shuttle binder embodying the present invention which forms the top wall ofthe shuttle box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 generally depict the right-hand side of a loom having mounted thereon a shuttle box 2 and picker spindle 4. Obviously, the teachings of this disclosure apply to any shuttle box of a loom. For example, the shuttle box located on the left-hand side of the loom or any shuttle box of a loom having a 2-to-l box plan are within the contemplation of this disclosure. A picker 6, extending into shuttle box 2, is mounted on picker spindle 4 and attached to picker stick 8. Shuttle box 2 has a top member 10, a bottom formed by raceplate 12, aside member 14 which is positioned to the rear of the loom and a side, which is positioned to the front of the loom, formed by shuttle binder 16. The surface of top member 10 which faces the inside of shuttle box 2 typically is lined with a strip of felt 18. The right-hand side of shuttle binder 16 is pivotally mounted between raceplate l2 and top member 10 by binder pin 20. Binder pin 20 is affixed between the raceplate 12 and top member 10 by socket head set screws 22. A bearing 24 is provided to facilitate the pivoting of shuttle binder 16 about binder pin 20. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the surface of binder 16 which faces the inside of shuttle box 2 is arcuate at its end portions 16a and 16b. Between end portions 160 and 16b the surface comprises a straight portion 16c angularly disposed into shuttle box 2 from arcuate portion 16a and a straight portion 16d angularly disposed into shuttle box 2 from arcuate portion 16b so that straight portions 16c and 16d abut. The angle at which straight portion 16d is disposed with respect to the rest of the binder should be such that, when the shuttle is completely boxed, straight portion 16d will be contiguous and in contact with the flat portion of shuttle substantially throughout'their congruent surfaces.

However, the scope of this invention obviously is not limited to shuttle binders having the exact shape heretofore described. For example, the surface of binder 16 which faces the inside of shuttle box 2 could be convex throughout its extent. Or it could comprise two straight abutting surfaces angularly disposed with respect to each other and projecting into the shuttle box 2.

In any event, the surface of binder 16 which faces the inside of shuttle. box 2 will be generally arch shaped and bowed toward the wall of shuttle box 2 which is opposite that surface. By using the word arch shaped" it is meant to define a surface which extends into shuttle box 2 from both ends of binder 16 in such a manner that when the binder is in the closed position the distance between the surface and the opposite wall with respect thereto will be greater at either end of the binder than therebetween. For example, the surface of binder 16 which faces the inside of shuttle box 2 is arch shaped within the scope of this disclosure if the surface is curved throughout its lateral extent, as for example, if a cross section of the surface forrns a hyperbola, arc of a circle, arc of an ellipse, or any other regular mathematical curve, as well as any mathematically irregular curved surface. In addition, this term is intended to comprehend a surface which comprises a continuity of two or more straight segments or a surface comprising a combination of curved segments and straight segments.

A wear resistant cover 26 is fastened to binder 16 by threaded screws 28. This wear resistant cover may be made of any of a variety of wear-resistant materials suitable for the intended purpose such as leather, rubber, or canvas. Alternatively, in lieu of a cover, the binder may be treated with a wear resistant finish. For example, the binder may be flame plated or electro plated.

FIGS. 1 and 2 further illustrate how shuttle binder 16 can be pivoted to an open or closed position by pneumatic means. A series oflinkages connect the binder 16 to air cylinder 30. One end of clevis head link 32 is pivotally mounted to binder 16 by means of pivot pin 34 and socket head setscrews 36. Similarly, the other end of clevis head link 32 is pivotally mounted to one end of pivot arm 38 by means of pivot pin 40 and socket head setscrew 42. The other end of pivot arm 38 is affixed to pivot pin 39 which is pivotally mounted to vertical member 44 and attached to lever arm 46 by means of socket head setscrew 45 and. retaining ring 47. Vertical member 44 is attached to the bottom of shuttle box 2. Bearings 41 are provided to facilitate the pivoting of pivot pin 39 and therefore pivot arm 38, about vertical member 44. The other end of lever arm 46 is connected to cylinder clevis 48 by means of pivot pin 50and socket head setscrews 52. Cylinder clevis 48 is connected to piston rod 54 of air cylinder 30. Piston rod 54 is affixed to piston 55. Air cylinder 30 is mounted to cylinder bracket 56 by means of cylinder pin 58 and socket head setscrew 60. Cylinder bracket 56 is mounted to the bottom side of shuttle box 2 by threaded screws 62. This air cylinder 30 has two openings or ports 64 and 66 to which are connected tubes 64a and 66a, respectively. Tubes 64a and 66a are connected to air valves (not shown).

In accordance with the teachings of this embodiment of the present invention the loom operator will initially determine the amount of air pressure required to uniformly arrest the shuttle 80 in the shuttle box 2. This will depend, in part, upon the speed at which the shuttle 80 will be travelling across raceplate 12 of the loom. The greater the speed, the greater will be the amount of pressure required. Once the pressure gauges have been set the amount of air pressure utilized by the pneumatic actuating means described hereinafter will remain substantially constant. Piston rod 54 is reciprocated by utilizing this pressurized air. For example, a valve (not shown), opened and closed by means of a switch (not shown) which operates off of the main drive shaft of the loom, is opened thereby causing air to enter, via port 64, that chamber of air cylinder 30 which is to the left of piston 55. The force exerted by the air on piston 55 causes it to move towards port 66. Similarly, another valve (not shown) is opened thereby facilitating the exit of air, via port 66, from that chamber of air cylinder 30 which is to the right of piston 55. Subsequently, the process is reversed and as air is forced into the port of the chamber of cylinder 30 to the right of piston 55, piston 55 is pushed towards port 64 and air is forced out of theport of cylinder 30 to the left thereof. The pressurized air is altematively forced through ports 64 and 66 into air chamber 30 by means of the switch, noted above, which operates off of the main drive shaft of the loom and causes the valves to open and shut. In this manner, as will be more apparent from the detailed discussion which follows, the shuttle binder 16 is pivoted to a closed position before the shuttle 80 enters the shuttle box 2 and to an open position before the shuttle 80 is picked from the shuttle box since the pivoting of the shuttle binder is synchronized with the shuttle motion in the loom.

Starting from a position where the shuttle 80 is already boxed and about to be picked across the loom, air under pressure enters the right chamber of air cylinder 30 through port 66. As noted, this has the effect of forcing piston 55 and piston rod 54 in the direction of port 64 thereby forcing the air in the left chamber of air cylinder 30 out of that chamber via port 64. As piston rod 54 moves from right to left, as viewed from the front of the loom, cylinder clevis 48 is caused to move in the same direction. Referring in particular to FIG. 2, it will be noted that when this happens arm 46 will be caused to pivot counterclockwise about pivot pin 50. This has the effect of causing air cylinder 30 to pivot about cylinder pin'58 toward the front of the loom. Since lever arm 46 is rigidly connected to pivot pin 39 which is rigidly connected to pivot arm 38, pivot pin 39 and therefore pivot arm 38 will pivot in a counterclockwise direction about vertical member 44. This will have the effect of causing clevis head link 32 to pivot in a clockwise direction about pivot pin 40 thereby causing binder 16 to pivot about binder pin 20 to an open position; i.e. binder 16 will be pivoted away from rear side 14 a distance greater than the distance across the shuttle 80. It will be noted that as binder 16 is so pivoted the right-hand surface 16d is also pivoted to an open position. Accordingly, when the shuttle is picked the filling or weft yarn is not wedged between the shuttle 80 and the shuttle binder l6. Heretofore, the shuttle box opening was defined by one end of the top member, the raceplate of the loom, one end of that side member which was positioned toward the rear of the loom and one end of a side member whichwas positioned toward the front of the loom. In some instances, this front side of the shuttle box opening in cluded a stationary guiding member. In either case, since this front side of the shuttle box opening was stationary, when the shuttle was picked from the shuttle box there was a tendency for the filling yarn to abraid, or become severed, as a result of its becoming wedged between the shuttle and the stationary front side member. If the surface of a fabric includes in its makeup abraided filling yarns, it is fluffy. In addition, there is a tendency for the interstices in the fabric to become filled with the fluffy filling yarn. In any case, variation in the texture of the fabric is undesirable. For example, in papermaking it is desirable to use a fabric, the surface of which is characterized by having a uniform texture,-otherwise, marking of the paper web would occur. The present invention substantially eliminates abrasion of the filling yarn by providing for the pivoting of binder 16, one edge of which defines the front side member of the shuttle box opening, out of the path of motion of shuttle prior to the firing thereof.

After shuttle 80 has been fired from shuttle box 2, air under pressure is caused to enter the left chamber of air cylinder 30. This has the effect of forcing piston 55 and piston rod 54 in the direction of port 66' thereby forcing the air in the right chamber of air cylinder 30 out of that chamber via port 66. As piston rod 54 moves from left to right (viewed from front of the loom) cylinder clevis 48 is caused to move in the same direction. Lever arm 46 will thereby be caused to pivot clockwise about pivot pin 50. This has the effect of causing air cylinder 30 to pivot about cylinder pin 58 toward the rear of the loom. Since lever arm 46 is rigidly connected to pivot pin 39 which is rigidly connected to pivot arm'38, pivot pin 39 and therefore pivot arm 38 willalso pivot in a clockwise direction about vertical member 44. This will have the effect of causing clevis head link 32 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 40 thereby causing binder 16 to pivot about binder pin 20 to a closed position; i.e. binder 16 will be pivoted towards rear side 14 a distance less than the distance across the shuttle 80. When shuttle 80 enters shuttle box 2, engagement of the concave portion of shuttle 80 with arcuate surface 16a of binder 16 will cause shuttle 80 to be guided into shuttle box 2 in such a manner as to reduce shuttle deflection, Deflection will be substantially eliminated because the pressure brought to bear by the incoming shuttle on binder 16 will cause binder 16 to pivot outward, while, at the same time, binder 16 will maintain contact with, and, as a result of its linkage with air cylinder 30, exert uniform contact pressure on the. shuttle. Uniform contact pressure results from the opening of a relief valve (not shown) as the air in the left chamber of air cylinder 30 is compressed. The compression of air results from the movement of piston 55 in the direction of port 64. Piston 55 is moved in this direction because of its linkage with binder 16 and the pressure exerted thereon by shuttle 80 as it enters the shuttle box. Binder 16 will continue to exert uniform contact pressure against the surface of shuttle 80 until after shuttle 80 is completely boxed. When shuttle 80 is completely boxed binder 16 will be caused to pivot, as noted above, to an open position. Up to this time shuttle rebound has been a recurring problem. Another problem has been the arresting of the shuttle in other than a uniform manner. Shuttle rebound and abrupt changes in shuttle speed have caused the filling yarn to continue to unwind as the shuttle is boxed causing slack in the fillingyam to occur. The present invention substantially eliminates shuttle rebound and causes the shuttle to be arrested in a uniform manner. Accordingly, slack in the filling yarn is substantially eliminated and the filling yarn is maintained under a more uniform tension. If the filling yarn were not maintained'under a uniform tension the quality of the fabric produced might be impaired. For example, a heat setting treatment is utilized in the production of certain fabrics. When heat set, all of the weft yarns will contract by an amount proportional to their length, and this proportion will be uniform as between different yarns made from the same batch of material. If the filling yarn tension is not uniform then the length of the weft yarns will vary with each pick, although the distance over which all of them are laid will be the same since the overall width of the fabric will be determined by the width of the loom. Accordingly, when the fabric is heat set thermal contractions may result in the production of a fabric having baggy areas. In addition, when the weft yarns of varying length are heat set the degree of knuckling may vary across the surface of the fabric, which, for example, in papermaking fabrics, may adversely affect materials with which the surface comes in contact. By maintaining the filling yarn under a uniform tension, these problems are avoided.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 further illustrate the operation of this invention. As illustrated, binder l6 defines the front wall of shuttle box 2. In FIG. 3 binder 16 is shown on the closed position. As shuttle 80 enters shuttle box 2 shuttle 80 will engage binder 16, causing it to pivot outward from shuttle box 2 until shuttle 80 is fully arrested. While binder 16 is so pivoted pressure will be uniformly exerted by binder 16 on shuttle 80. When shuttle 80 is fully arrested straight portion 16d of 16 will have been pivoted in such a manner as to be adjacent to the surface of shuttle 80 substantially along its lateral extent, as seen in FIG. 4. Prior to the firing of shuttle 80 from shuttle box 2, binder 16 will have been pivoted to an open position, as shown in FIG. 5. It can readily be seen from FIG. 5 that shuttle 80 can be picked out of shuttle box 2 without abraiding the filling yarn.

Though the preferred embodiment of the present invention entails the utilization of pneumatic means for pivoting the shuttle binder to an open and closed position, it is by no means meant to so limit the scope of this invention. For example, hydraulic or mechanical means could be used to pivot the shuttle binder to open and closed positions.

As noted in FIG. 6 an alternative embodiment of the present invention comprises a shuttle box 2 having a bottom formed by raceplate 12, a side member 14 positioned to the rear of the loom, a side member 11 positioned to the front of the loom and a top wall formed by shuttle binder 16. The right-hand side of binder 16 is moveably pivotally mounted, with respect to raceplate 12, between rear side 14 and front side 11 by binder pin 20. Binder pin 20 is afiixed between the rear side 14 and front side 11 by socket heat setscrews 22. A bearing 24 is provided to facilitate the pivoting of shuttle binder 16 about binder pin 20. Binder 16 is of the same configuration as noted above. A series of linkages (not shown) connect binder 16 to an air cylinder (not shown) so that binder 16 will be caused to pivot to open and closed positions in a similar manner as in the embodiment noted above wherein binder 16 forms the front side of shuttle box 2.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, it being recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

1 claim:

1. in a loom shuttle box, a shuttle checking device comprising a shuttle binder which forms one wall of said box and the front edge of which forms one edge of the shuttle receiving opening of said box, said shuttle binder being moveably pivotally affixed with respect to the opposing wall of said box at a point on said binder substantially away from said front edge, said binder having a surface facing said opposite wall the shuttle contacting portion of which, with respect to distance across the shuttle to be received between said surface and said opposing wall, is more distant from said opposing wall in the region adjacent said front edge and is less distant outside of said region when said binder is in the closed position, and is entirely more distant from said opposing wall when said binder is in the open position, and pneumatic-cylinder actuated positioning means for causing said binder selectively to move pivotally to open and to closed positions.

2. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 1 wherein said surface is arch shaped and bows toward said opposing wall. 1

3. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said surface comprises a continuity of arcuate end segments and at least one interposed straight segment, each of said segments being angularly disposed with respect to each next adjacent segment.

4. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said surface forms a curved arch.

5. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 4 wherein the curvature of said surface is mathematically regular in cross section.

6. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 5 wherein the curvature of said surface is circular in cross section.

7. A shuttle-checking mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein one of said straight segments is so disposed that when a shuttle has been received in said box said segment and one of the straight sides of the shuttle will be substantially in continuous contact with each other throughout their areas of congruence.

8. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said surface comprises a continuity of at least two straight segments.

9. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said binder forms the top wall of said shuttle box.

10. In a loom shuttlebox, a shuttle-checking device comprising a shuttle binder which forms the front wall of said box and one lateral edge of which forms an edge of the shuttle receiving opening of said box, said shuttle binder being moveably pivotally affixed with respect to the rear wall of said box near the other lateral edge of said binder, said binder having a surface facing said rear wall which as arcuate segments adjacent to both lateral edges thereof and two straight segments abutting each other and said arcuate segments and being angularly disposed with respect to said arcuate segments and with respect to each other to form a generally arch shaped continuous surface, the angular abutment of said straight segments, with respect to distance across the shuttle to be received between said surface and said rear wall, being less distant from said rear wall when said binder is in the closed position, said angular abutment of said straight segments being more distant from said rear wall when said binder is in the open position, said surface having a wear resistant finish integral therewith, and pneumatic-cylinder actuated positioning means for causing said binder to move pivotably to an open position before said shuttle is picked from said shuttle box and for causing said binder to move pivotably to a closed position before said shuttle enters said shuttle box. 

1. In a loom shuttle box, a shuttle checking device comprising a shuttle binder which forms one wall of said box and the front edge of which forms one edge of the shuttle receiving opening of said box, said shuttle binder being moveably pivotally affixed with respect to the opposing wall of said box at a point on said binder substantially away from said front edge, said binder having a surface facing said opposite wall the shuttle contacting portion of which, with respect to distance across the shuttle to be received between said surface and said opposing wall, is more distant from said opposing wall in the region adjacent said front edge and is less distant outside of said region when said binder is in the closed position, and is entirely more distant from said opposing wall when said binder is in the open position, and pneumatic-cylinder actuated positioning means for causing said binder selectively to move pivotally to open and to closed positions.
 2. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 1 wherein said surface is arch shaped and bows toward said opposing wall.
 3. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said surface comprises a continuity of arcuate end segments and at least one interposed straight segment, each of said segments being angularly disposed with respect to each next adjacent segment.
 4. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said surface forms a curved arch.
 5. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 4 wherein the curvature of said surface is mathematically regular in cross section.
 6. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 5 wherein the curvature of said surface is circular in cross section.
 7. A shuttle-checking mechanism as described in claim 2 wherein one of said straight segments is so disposed that when a shuttle has been received in said box said segment and one of the straight sides of the shuttle will be substantially in continuous contact with each other throughout their areas of congruence.
 8. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said surface comprises a continuity of at least two straight segments.
 9. A shuttle-checking device as described in claim 2 wherein said binder forms the top wall of said shuttle box.
 10. In a loom shuttle box, a shuttle-checking device comprising a shuttle binder which forms the front wall of said box and one lateral edge of which forms an edge of the shuttle receiving opening of said box, said shuttle binder being moveably pivotally affixed with respect to the rear wall of said box near the other lateral edge of said binder, said binder having a surface facing said rear wall which as arcuate segments adjacent to both lateral edges thereof and two straight segments abutting each other and said arcuate segments and being angularly disposed with respect to said arcuate segments and with respect to each other to form a generally arch shaped continuous surface, the angular abutment of said straight segments, with respect to distance across the shuttle to be received between said surface and said rear wall, being less distant from said rear wall when said binder is in the closed position, said angular abutment of said straight segments being more distant from said rear wall when said binder is in the open position, said surface having a wear resistant finish integral therewith, and pneumatic-cylinder actuated positioning means for causing said binder to move pivotably to an open position before said shuttle is picked from said shuttle box and for causing said binder to move pivotably to a closed position before said shuttle enters said shuttle box. 